The Ultimate Vodka Brands, Ranked

From Agent 007 to the "Big Lebowski," vodka drinks can be found in our favorite movies and throughout popular culture. In fact, the two top-selling spirit companies in the United States in 2019 and 2020 were vodka brands, per the American Association of Wine Economists. 

But, what is vodka? According to the Alcohol and Tabacco Tax and Trade Bureau, standard vodka is a neutral spirit that contains no colors or flavors and has at least 40% alcohol per volume. (Flavoring for vodkas only happens after the distillation process.) The liquor can be made from a number of ingredients, such as wheat, corn, sugar beet molasses, potatoes, rice, and fruit (via Live Science).

Popular cocktails, such as the White or Black Russian and the Moscow Mule, can give the impression that vodka is a drink specific to Russia, but that is not the case. While there are plenty of high-quality brands of Russian vodka, there are notable brands from other countries, as well, such as Poland, Ukraine, and the United States. To help you sort through all the vodka options, we have put together this ultimate guide to vodka brands.

The 90s are having a bit of a moment, and that is a good thing for Grey Goose — a brand that is very 1990s. Grey Goose was founded by Sydney Frank, an American businessman who wanted to create a premium vodka for the American market, per New York magazine. In 1996, Frank teamed up with a cognac distiller in France to make this vodka. Less than a decade later, Grey Goose was sold to Bacardi (via Bacardi). 

Grey Goose is still made in Cognac, France, using French wheat as its base and water from Gensac spring (Via Grey Goose). It comes in at 80 proof and has bready, earthy tasting notes with a hint of heat and citrus. Like many companies, Grey Goose makes flavored vodkas; but unlike brands that create bold flavors, such as Smirnoff and Pinnacle, the company stays true to its premium roots and has created a line of fruit- and botanical-flavored vodkas.

Grey Goose did a truly impressive job building its reputation as a premium brand. It jumped into the market and charged nearly twice that of competitors, according to New York magazine. The company aligned itself with influential brands and used smart promotions to boost its own brand. While Grey Goose has been incredibly successful, all the marketing in the world does not necessarily elevate the product. In the end, Grey Goose is good but does not quite live up to its premium reputation.

As a relative newcomer on the scene, Pinnacle has made a splash in the vodka community with its smooth taste and abundant flavors. The company, now owned by alcohol conglomerate Beam-Suntory, was founded in 2003 by Paul Coulombe in France (via Liquor.com). 

Pinnacle uses French wheat as the base of its spirit, along with pure spring water (via Liquor and Wine Outlet). The vodka is filtered five times to achieve a smooth flavor, per Pinnacle Vodka. 

Pinnacle vodka has found favor in clubs and college frat parties thanks to its huge line of flavored vodkas, including coconut, habanero, cucumber, and whipped cream. The flavored vodka runs 70 to 80 proof, while the original is available up to 100 proof. 

While the company's original vodka is not bad, it's the flavored varieties that shine. Pinnacle vodka is an excellent choice for a vodka tonic or mixing it into a cocktail, which is why it comes in at No. 20 on our list.

Skyy vodka was founded in San Francisco in 1992 (via Skyy). On a shelf full of clear bottles that showcase the colorless nature of most distillations, Skyy vodka stands out with a cobalt blue bottle. The brand created the vodka to make "the perfect martini," and as such, it is a good mixing vodka. Skyy is made using water that has been enhanced with minerals from the Pacific and filtered through limestone. The base of the vodka is grains. The company uses a four-column distillation process and filters the liquor three times to remove impurities and enhance the flavor, per VinePair.

Skyy offers a classic vodka that is 80 proof and great for mixing into cocktails. A selection of flavored vodkas is also available, including blood orange, citrus, pineapple, and watermelon. The flavored varieties come in slightly lower at 70 proof. Because Skyy vodka has an affordable price, is a good mixing vodka, and is unpretentious, it comes in at No. 18 on our list.

Chopin is a family-owned company that takes great pride in the quality of its products (via Chopin). The Chopin estate dates back to the 1700s and is comprised of a distillery and nearby buildings. It is situated on 17 acres in Krzesk, a village in Poland. Because Chopin has its own distillery, it produces the alcohol from raw ingredients rather than purchasing it from commercial distilleries. Many of the ingredients used to create the vodka are harvested from farms within 18 miles of the estate.

Rather than making flavored vodkas, the company focuses on producing traditional varieties. According to Potomac Wines & Spirits, Chopin's potato vodka contains up to 40 potatoes per bottle and has hints of green apple and vanilla. It is also the recipient of numerous awards. Chopin also offers rye vodka, which has a peppery flavor, as well as wheat vodka, which has notes of caramel. Each bottle is 80 proof. 

It is clear that Chopin cares deeply about the quality of its vodka. The brand has dubbed it "ultra-luxury" and it has a price to match. The vodka is better than many brands, but is not the best out there, which is why it sits at No. 16 on our list.

Effen Vodka was launched in 2003 (via Chicago magazine). The company is currently owned by Beam Suntory and the vodka is imported from Holland. Effen describes itself as a premium vodka but does not peg itself into the stuffy liquor hole. Instead, the brand seems to market itself predominantly toward nightclubs, with imagery and references to dance floors all across the website. They also proclaim that the texture is a "mixologist's dream."

The base of Effen Vodka is made with 100% wheat and the liquor has a texture that is a "mixologist's dream." The original vodka has a smooth taste with a fresh and clean aroma. The brand also produces several flavored vodkas, including black cheery, yuzu citrus, rose, raspberry, and cucumber. The vodka ranges from 75 to 80 proof, depending on the flavor.

Coming in at No. 14, Effen Vodka is a good multi-purpose vodka with a subtle flavor and minimal aftertaste. It tends to be a bit pricier, but this liquor will certainly get the party started.

New Amsterdam vodka was launched by E & J Gallo Winery in 2011, per New Amsterdam via Cision PR Newswire. Despite being relatively new to the vodka world, New Amsterdam was the seventh best-selling liquor brand in the United States in 2019 and 2020 (via the American Association of Wine Economists).

While it helps that it has a large parent company backing it, the brand strives to produce quality vodka. New Amsterdam uses a corn mash that is distilled no less than five times and filtered three times to create a smooth drink, per New Amsterdam Spirits Company. 

New Amsterdam vodka comes in two strengths. Original is 80 proof and described as crisp and smooth. A more potent 100 Proof Vodka is also available that is said to be smooth and citrusy and has "aromas of sweet frosting." In addition, the company offers a selection of flavored vodkas. 

Overall, New Amsterdam vodka comes in at a reasonable price and has a clean, smooth flavor making it an excellent addition to any bar. These qualities landed it at the No. 12 spot on our list.

In 2019 and 2020, Ketel One just barely made it onto the list of the top 20 liquor brands sold in the United States (via the American Association of Wine Economists). The company's history dates back to 1691 when it was founded by Joanness Nolet in the Netherlands (via Ketel One). Since then, the company has gone through various iterations and setbacks. By the 1900s, the company was producing many different types of liquor until Carolus Nolet took over and decided to focus on one type: vodka. In 1983, Ketel One vodka was born and named after the oldest coal-fired pot still in use by the company: Distilleerketel #1.

Ketel One is one of the few vodka companies that make its product using a pot still, per Difford's Guide. While the process begins with using a more popular column, the second distillation takes place in a pot still to enhance the flavor. The 80-proof vodka is made with wheat as the base and is described as being crisp and light. The original variety was voted No.1 best-selling vodka by Drinks International and received 98 points from Cigar & Spirits Magazine. In addition to classic vodka, the company also offers multiple flavors, including a line of fruit-flavored vodkas. 

Overall, Ketel One is a good general-use vodka that will suit most needs. This is why it comes in at No. 10 on our list.

It is amazing how many brands claim to be the oldest at what they do, but Belvedere seems to have some legitimate claims in this department. According to the company, it produces the world's first "super-premium vodka." It also makes its product in the oldest continuously operating facility in the world, which has been making vodka since 1910 (via Belvedere).

As a Polish brand, the company adheres to Polish vodka regulations, which are more stringent than in the United States. These regulations include making vodka of only grains or potatoes and nothing else. Belvedere produces its vodka with Polish rye and purified water and distills it using a heat-based method, or as the company says, "fire." The resulting vodka has a peppery and nutty taste that earned it 90 points in the 2020 Ultimate Spirit Challenge. In addition to its superb classic vodka, the company produces a line of botanical and specialty vodkas. 

A bottle of Belvedere vodka is 80 proof and can be a smidge on the pricey side, but it is absolutely worth it. This is a vodka to be sipped and savored.

This is one vodka you will not miss on the shelves. Crystal Head vodka's distinctive skull-shaped bottle catches the eye of everyone and is incredibly awkward to pack into a box. This crystal head bottle was not designed to be ordinary. Crystal Head, founded by actor and comedian Dan Ackroyd of "Saturday Night Live" and "Ghostbusters" fame, designed the bottle to stand out and emphasize the brand's "creative spirit," per Crystal Head.

One might worry that the brand is just a pretty face with no substance, but Ackroyd and cofounder/artist John Alexander put just as much thought into the contents as the bottle. All of Crystal Head's products are additive-free and certified kosher. 

The company does not have as large a repertoire of vodka as some competitors, but they make three, 80 proof classic vodkas, each with a unique base. The original Crystal Head vodka is made with a corn base and offers notes of citrus and vanilla. Aurora is made with English wheat and has floral and anise notes. Oynx is made using Blue Weber agave, which produces a noticeably earthy and peppery flavor. E

Crystal Head tends to be on the pricier side, but it is worth the splurge. 

Founded in 2020, Harridan Vodka is the newest vodka on this list, per Harridan Vodka via Cision. But do not let its youth lull you into a false sense of security; this female-owned and operated brand is making a splash in the vodka world. The company name is based on the word harridan, which means "a bossy and/or belligerent old woman," which is perfectly appropriate for a vodka that demands to be noticed, per Harridan.

Harridan Vodka is made from corn and comes in at 88 proof, which is higher than average. The flavor profile contains notes of pepper, toffee, vanilla, and citrus. Each bottle is made from recycled glass and is sealed with a black wax seal that completes the product's elegant, boutique look. 

As a new, small-batch company, Harridan Vodka keeps its prices on the higher side. However, early reviews for this vodka are strong, as seen on Drizzly, which is why it's placed in the top five on our list. If you are in the market for a top-shelf vodka, this one hits the spot.

Reyka vodka is an Icelandic vodka owned by Scottish company William Grant & Sons. It may seem somewhat counter-intuitive to have a Scottish Icelandic vodka, but Reyka is an incredible vodka made like no other. 

Reyka vodka is made from barley and wheat from Scotland (via Distiller). The mash is mixed with glacial spring water from a lava field that is 4,000 years old, which the company states make it "some of the purest in the world." Reyka then uses a Carter Head still to produce an incredibly smooth vodka with just one distillation. Difford's Guide states that these stills are more commonly used in gin production and offer extra distillation and copper content that was historically used in low-quality spirits. The spirit is then filtered through lava rocks. Each bottle of Reyka vodka is 80 proof. 

Flaviar describes the clear liquor as soft with a crisp finish. It has gentle notes of pepper and citrus. Each batch that Reyka produces only consists of 255 cases of vodka. Reviewers rave about the vodka, making it a top pick for sipping or mixing.